Post by StoryGirl83 on Jun 4, 2010 21:21:37 GMT -5
Chapter Three – Magical Assistance
For several seconds Piper just stared at the phone stunned. Though they had last seen Darryl Morris on more or less friendly terms he hadn’t called them in over two decades. She certainly hadn’t expected to hear from him ever, again. “Darryl?”
“I’m sorry I haven’t called,” Darryl informed her, trying to forestall any questions on that, “but I really need your help. We’ve gotten over thirty reports of missing children in the last twenty-four hours.”
Piper glanced in the direction of her kitchen. Could Darryl’s problem possibly be connected with Tyler’s?
“Not one of those reports was from the parents and from the parents I have actually talked to I am getting the distinct impression that they think the Chicago Police Department will do them no good.”
“That’s all horrible,” Piper conceded, “but, Darryl, that doesn’t mean it’s magical and I’m not sure I’d be any use in finding a human kidnapper.”
“It’s magical,” Darryl argued. “At least one of these parents had your power, Piper. I haven’t asked for your help often, but I need you with this. Can’t you get Paige to orb you and Phoebe here and check it out.”
“I can’t get Phoebe anywhere,” Piper said with a catch in her voice.
Darryl must have heard it, because he immediately picked up on it. “Did something happen to Phoebe? Is she all right?”
“I don’t know,” Piper admitted. “We haven’t seen her in almost two months, not since just before Pr . . . Oh!” Piper gasped as she realized something. “Darryl, I just realized that I have some news you’ll want to hear.”
“Do you know where to find these kids?”
“No, but I know who I’m going to try and send over to help you,” Piper decided.
“I need someone magical for this, Piper,” Darryl insisted. “This is magical. A demon is behind this, or maybe several demons. You can tell me your news later.”
“It’s about Andy.”
There was complete silence on the other end for almost half a minute. Finally, Darryl audibly gulped. “Andy has been dead for nearly three decades, Piper.”
“I know that,” Piper admitted. “But my husband has been dead since 1942 if you recall.”
“Leo’s a whitelighter,” Darryl protested. “Or was? Or is he again?”
“He’s just a normal human,” Piper replied to put off any other questions on that. “I’ll let Andy get you all caught up on.”
“You’re saying Andy is a whitelighter?”
“Was,” came Piper’s reply. “He’s also from an alternate reality, but that reality broke off of ours after he died, so everything before his death is just the same as what you remember.”
“Alternate what?” Darryl asked confused.
“Reality,” Piper repeated. “Like I said, I’ll let him fill you in.”
“Much as I would love to see Andy again,” Darryl protested, “he’s still not going to be able to help with something magical.”
“You’d be surprised what three decades as a whitelighter can teach someone about magic,” Piper retorted. The words replied in her mind as a little voice remaindered her that Leo had six decades as a whitelighter before he gave up his wings for her and their family. “Besides, he’ll bring his wife and she most assuredly has practical experience with magic.”
“His wife?” Darryl queried. “Who’s his wife?”
“Prue.”